HUNDREDS of Abingdon residents are relieved their homes escaped further flooding - and are now demanding another meeting with Environment Agency bosses.

The River Ock broke its banks last Thursday and residents on the Tithe Farm estate, Mill Road and other streets off Drayton Road feared a repeat of July's devastation.

Although water started flooding the field behind their homes, it failed to reach their doors.

Now residents, who met Environment Agency staff in November, are demanding further talks about what flood prevention measures could be put in place.

Pat Rutherford, 57, and her husband Martin, 62, barricaded their home with sandbags.

They had just moved back in after £38,000 repairs to July's flood damage and were waiting for new furniture to be delivered.

Mrs Rutherford said: "It's a huge relief that we weren't flooded this time round, but I think we were really lucky because the water was nearly at our back gate.

"Residents feel that the Ock needs to be dredged or cleaned in some way because it hasn't been done since the 1950s.

"We need a follow-up meeting with the Environment Agency to find out the best way forward because we feel we are not a priority compared to other areas."

Richard Hudson, 47, of Mill Road, said: "I'm definitely worried because it's only a matter of time before we flood again."

Vale of White Horse district councillor Lesley Legge said: "We need to keep pressing the Environment Agency on what measures are possible regarding the Ock.

"But if you do something to help one section of the community you have to ensure that others are not going to be worse off."

Environment Agency spokesman Dave Ferguson said staff would be happy to meet Abingdon residents again to discuss flooding issues, but no date had yet been fixed.

Flooding also caused problems for drivers, with surface water affecting the A417 between West Challow and Stanford in the Vale.

Denchworth Road in West Hanney was also closed for a short time due to flooding, together with the main route through Clifton Hampden.

In Kennington, residents escaped flooding at the weekend - despite vandals destroying barriers put up to hold back flood water.

Four water-filled flood defence barriers were slashed, putting 20 homes and the neighbouring railway line to Didcot at risk.

Kennington Parish Council chairman Pete Briggs, 63, said: "We are lucky that the waters were going down or who knows what would have happened?"

The vandal attack came two days after thieves stole a water pump from Earl Street in Botley, Oxford.